Fulham 3-1 Preston North End: Match Report

04 March 2017 05:34

Martin back on the scoresheet as Fulham keep up play-off push with Preston win

Chris Martin marked his return to the Fulham line-up with his side's second goal in a 3-1 victory over Preston to keep Slavisa Jokanovic's men in the hunt for a play-off place.

Martin, who was in dispute with Fulham in January after indicating he wanted to return to parent club Derby, was omitted from the squad for last weekend's trip to Cardiff.

But back in the starting XI, the striker doubled Fulham's lead on the hour with his 11th goal of the season after Sone Aluko had given the hosts a first-half lead.

Tom Barkhuizen brought Preston back into the game when he marked his full debut with a 67th-minute strike but Neeskens Kabano wrapped the win with a Fulham's third 12 minutes from time.

Victory, which keeps the Cottagers in seventh place, five points adrift of the top six , was the perfect way for Fulham manager Jokanovic to mark his contract extension that will keep him at the club for the next two seasons.

But for Preston, defeat was a blow to their own hopes of making the play-offs with Simon Grayson's side now nine points off sixth spot.

Fulham looked the more convincing side as they totally dominated the first half and should have reached the interval with more than Aluko's goal to show for their efforts.

The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute after a well-worked move on the left-hand flank that saw Ryan Sessegnon release Kabano inside the area.

The Fulham midfielder worked his way to the byline before pulling a low cross back towards Aluko who produced a clinical first-time finish to send the ball beyond keeper Chris Maxwell.

Maxwell had to be alert to prevent Tomas Kalas adding a second five minutes before the break when the defender met Kabano's corner with a near-post flick.

On that occasion Preston reacted positively, immediately breaking through Barkhuizen with Aiden McGeady capping the move by drawing a rare save from Fulham keeper David Button.

It was clear Preston needed to improve dramatically if they were to get anything from the game but the second half started ominously for the visitors when Kabano's snap-shot was pushed onto the bar by Maxwell.

Daryl Horgan did manage to threaten Button's goal as the visitors finally got onto the front foot but hopes of a comeback disappeared when Martin added a second Fulham goal on the hour.

The Scotland international was sent clear inside the Preston area by Ryan Fredericks' pass and produced a neat, right-foot finish to place the ball beyond Maxwell.

Preston's response was impressive with Barkhuizen reducing the deficit seven minutes later after running in behind the home defence to collect McGeady's through-ball before keeping his nerve and beating Button with a precise, low shot.

But Kabano settled any home nerves when he collected Aluko's pass and stabbed his shot through Maxwell's legs.